Self-feeding pencil



R. S. PRYCE.ET AL SELF FEEDING PENCIL Filed Jan. 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l J? INVENToR ce ranch CW? S Baa-'62 er ATTORNEY April Z0 1926.

WITNESS April zo, 1926. 1,581,412

n R. s. PRYCE ET A1 SELF FEEDING PENCIL Filed Jan. 25. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented 20, v1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. .l

RALPH S. PR'YCE AND FRANK FRENCH, OF LINCOLN, AND WILBUR S. BOSTDER, 0l'

^ CHADRON, NEBRASKA.

sELE-FEEDI'NG PENCIL.

Application led January 25, 1926. Serial No. 83,625.

.To lall whom it may concern.'

Be it known that Awe, RALPH S. PRYCE,

FRANK E. FRENCH, and WILBUR S. BOSTDER, citizens of the United States, residing at f Lincoln, Lincoln, and Chadron, respectively, .in the counties of Lancaster, Lancaster, and I Dawes, respectively, and State of Nebraska,

have invented new and useful Improvements position with reference to the point of the pencil. p r.

A further object is to provide a device of this type in which all of the elements maintain a fixed relation with reference to yeach other, except the plunger and the means for advancing said plunger. v A further object is to provide for feeding a new lead from the magazine to a central slotted stem, by the merel rotation ofthe pencil as a whole, without the necessity of rotating a pick-up device independently of the barrel, as -in all previous constructions lof this general type. p `A further object is to mount the main structural elements within the barrel in such mannery that there will be a firml and substantial support therefor, without the possibility of accidental displacement.

A further object is to provide particular means for retaining theflead being used, in operative position, a three-point gripping and holding device being employed, involving the use of a resilient member specially mounted and bearing on the lead, a split element providing resilient fingers, and a tapered pencil point thru which the lead passes and which engages the lead at or adjacent to the projecting portion thereof, constituting the point per se.

A further object is to provide for the cooperation of the upper end of the plunger with the spiral member, so that the operative end of the plunger shall maintain a 50,

particular position with reference to the channel formed inthe tubular stem.

A further object is to provide, in one form of the device, for the cutting of a spiral channel, for cooperation with the plunger, directly in the inner wall of a tube within the barrel of the pencil. f

With the foregoing and other objects in\ view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made Within the scope of the claims, .without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Inthe drawings forming part of this ap- 66 plication, A

Figure l is a view of the pencil in longitudinal section. Figure 2 is a, transverse section on line 2 2 of Figure 1. 70

Figure4 3 is asection on line 3 3 of Figure 1. l

Figure 4'is a section on line 1 -4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 `is a view in elevation showing 75 the central tubular stem, having longitudi- A,nal slots therein, and adapted to receive the leads, one at a time, from the magazine formed between the stem and the barrel of the pencil. l

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the plunger.

Figure 7 is a view in elevation, showing the spiral element by means of which the plunger is advanced longitudinally of the 8l barrel.

Figure 8 is a view in elevation of a point block, the upper end of which is to be rigid with reference 'to the upper end of the tapered point of the pencil, but is detach- 00 able with reference to the lower end of the barrel Aof the pencil.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10y is a view showing the manner 95 of mounting the spring clip yon the outer side of the barrel:` ..1

Figure 11 il a detail view showing a slot in the tubular spiral cover, permitting this elen'izent `to be soldered to the spiral of Figure Y l Figure 12 is a section on line 12--12 of Figure 5, showing the manner of mounting the central element of Figure 4, b'y means of which the leads are guided into the chan,`

nel ofthe stem. i v

Figure^14 is a fragmentary view in vertical section, showing a modication in is provided with an external thread 27, and

which a spiral channel. is cut directly in the wall of the bore of a tube within the barrel or casing. f

The barrel of the pencil is designated 10, the tapered point is shown at 11, and a cap 12 `is mounted as"l disclosed below, and e covers an eraser 13, the cap having an upper flared end 14, and the lower end of the cap, as the device is shown in Figure 1, abutting the upper end of the barrel.

A spring clip 15 is mounted on the barrel or casing, and may include an enlarged'end portion 16, and ears such as 17 which project from the upper end', at the sides thereof, and which pass thrii a slot or slots in the barrel, and which are then deflected on theA inner side, and pressed down so that they will lie flush with the surface of the inner wall of the barrel.` The curvature or'` form of the freely movable portions of the clip may be varied as desired.

The stem of tubular form, and shown injdetail in Figure 5, constitutes an important feature of the `device and is provided with anelongated slot 20, extending thru the upper portion 21 ofthe stem, this slot terminating with an end wall at 22 where a continuous annular connecting member is provided, it being understood that the structure is integrally formed.

The lower portion 23 of the stem of Figgure 5, is slotted lon itudinally as shown at. 24, and a longitudinal flange or lip 25 extends alongside of the slotted portion, outwardly to the Wall of the barrel, a magazine being provided between the main portion ofthe stem, or they channeled portion thereof and said inner wall o'f the barrel. The lower portion'of the stem of Figure 5 4with a tapered end 28, and within the longitudinal bore of the threaded portion, we mount a special spring of the form shown in Figure 12, this spring being ada ted to bear against the lead advanced by the plunger, and serving a special purpose 1n alding in the holding of the lead in proper,-

sition, so that there will beno shifting l of the latter in use. The spring is designated 30 andit is provided with a lower deflected end 31, with a deflected portion 32, and with a IU-shaped portion 33 adapted to tit over the Wall of the stem at the point shown in Figlure 12, and also illustrated in Figure 5. T pint, so that the end of the spring properly engages the wall and lies between the latter' and an annular channel formed in the point block, described below.

This point block is illustrated in elevation in Figure 8 and includes a tubular portion 35, a lianged portion or head 36, and-a flanged portion 3f?. The block or tubular e wall is made thinner at this element of Figurev 8 further includes a slotted and tapered portion provided with threepoint contact with the lead is cony sidered to be of very great imporance from` a practical standpoint. The point block of -spring fingers 38, adapted to engage the lead Figure 8 constructed as specied, isthreaded onto the lower end of the stem of Figure 5, 4and issoldered to the tapered point 11 of thenpencil, but is detachable with reference to the lower end of the barrel of Figure 1. The length of the magazine 40 is such that a full length lead, advanced to writing .position, by the plunger, will be engaged at all threeV points of contact, as indicated roughly by the dotted line 41'in Figure 1. The lead in use, as represented in that view, is designated 42.

The clip. 15, or any other suitable device or'design, maybe regarded as an lindicating member, and in order to cause the entrance of one of the leads'into the channel portion of the stem of Figure 5, the plunger is retracted to the limit of its upward movement, by the means indicated below, and the barrel, including all of the elements therein or mounted thereon, is rotated thru one revolution, sothat the indicating dev-ice, considered for convenience, as the clip 15, is

\ brought' ,back to the same position,vor to the lip 25 will then be in the position of Figure 4, and will have picked up a lead, so that it will fall by gravity thru slot 24, into the channel portion 24 of the stem.

A center block '44 includes flanges 45 which engage-the inner wall of barrel l10, and the block 44 is secured to theportion 22 of Figure 5 by crimping or providlng slightly flattened sides as shown in Figure 9, whereby a lirm contact is provided or secured. This element 44 is connected by sol-` dering to barrel 10, as shown at 44', the object bein to avoid any accidental displacement of t-e elements within the ba'rrel, at this point, or at any other part of the construction.

The plunger 47 is tapered as shown in Figure 1 and-isl designed to lie in closecontact with the adjacent wall of the channel in the 554 portion. In advancing the plunger 47, the

t e cap 12, and? stem of Figure 5, and the end. of the plun er `contacts directly with the lead after the at- .ter has been received within the channel, as illustrated in Figure 4. The upper limit of l movement of the' plunger isslightly above the lower edge or end of element 44, and the .with a flattened portion 48, and with an upf per flattened portion 49. The upper end portion is turned over, or downwardly, at- 50, and is then turned outwardly or laterally at 51, all of this upper 1end portion being flattened and the proportions being such thata particular type of cooperat-ion with thespiral of Figure 7 is assured.' The element of Figure 7 may comprise a tubular member provided' with a spirall channel extending entirely thru the wall thereof, the channel being open at both ends. The tube is designated 53, and the channel -is shown at 54, this channel being engaged by the portion 51 of the plunger, whereby upon the rotation of the spiral, in the manner described below, the plunger will be advanced for imparting longitudinal thrust to the lead. The manner ofcooperation between the upper portion of the plunger of Figure 6v and the element or elements engaged thereby, insures the holding of the lower end of the 'plunger' in engagement with the'wall of the channel at theside shown in Figure 1. This is also an important feature inop eration.

A 'spiral cover 55`is illustrated in Figure 11, and is shown in vFigure 1 as surrounding the spiral member of Figure 7, and this cover 55 is firml secured to the outer'wall ofthe spiral 53 fly means of solder applied thru slots 56 in the cover 55. The upper end of this element is of greater diameter than the remainingportion thereof, and is roughened orl provided with'l shallow corrugations in the manner shown in Figure 2, whereby the cap'12 of Figure 1 is caused to provide substantial engagement with the'spiral cover, and especially with the upper end 55 thereof .which constitutes the corrugated user of the article rotates` thereby impart-s rotary movement to the spiral of Figure 7 which in turn, imparts longitudinal movement to the plunger. Thev cap 12 covers the eraser 13, as previously ind'icated, and the latter is heldin any suitable manner, las indicated at 13', where the lupper end of the sp1ral cover is shown as being -crimped against the side Wall of the, eraser. It will, or course, be understood -that gagement Withcenter block 44, and thirdly by means ofthe point block of Figure 8, having the relative position to the other parts illustrated in Figure 1.

In the modifiedv form of Figure 14, a4

spiral channel 54 is formed directly in the tubular member 55', the upper end of this element last named being provided with shallow longitudinal corrugations for the purpose previously indicated. The lateraly plunger of Figure 6, will cooperate directly with the spiral channel 54', so that the use of a spiral such` as that shown in Figure 7, and an independent element as a cover therefor may be avoided, although both forms of construction are equally' practicable, and after extended experimental work, no defect in mechanical construction and no objectionable feature in operation has developed, but on the other hand, the device has been proven to be highly efficient and almost incapable of imperfect operation during use.

It should be stated that a* washer 60 is mounted during -the assembly of the device, between the center block .and the spiral 'tube of Figure 7, another washer 61 being niounted at the other endAo-f the spiral, and -a ring or disk 62 is-.placed over this washer, and.

subsequently,V forced down under pressure to bring'these various elements into close' relation, so that they will operate in a sense as one device. The end portion of the stem is then crimped at 63.

' The pencil is recharged with ly from the box in which they. are supplied extendlng portion at the upper end of the leads direct by the trade for pencils of this class, and it is only necessary to detach the upper end 0f the point block 36 from the lower end `of the barrel L0`in`order to provide for the entrance of the leads to the magazine.'

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:-

1. In a pencil, a barrel, a pencil point,

.projecting from one end of the barrel, Ia

rotatable element projecting )from the other end, atubular slotted stem including a flange extending outwardly from the edge of the Slotted portion and tangentially with reference to the exterior wallof the tubular stem, a plunger for advancing a lead into the stem, saidstem being spaced inwardly I from the walls of the barrel to provide aaoA magazine, and the plunger including aA laterally projecting element, a tubular member having a spiral formed therein engaged by the projecting element of the-plunger, the stem extending the full length ot'r the. tubular element and barrel and being rotatable by the barrel, devices for mounting the tubu-v lar stem in iixed relation to the barrel, said spiral 4being rotatable by the rotatable element for advancing the plunger and iin-- parting movement'to a leadwithin the channel, and a point block rigid with the pencil point and stem and detachably connected vwith the barrel.

2. In a pencil, a barrel, a pencil point,

projecting from one end of the barrel, a cap,

the full length of the tubular element andA barrel and being rotatableby the barrel, and devices comprising a center block engaging the barrel and a point block engag ing the pencil. point and.- barrel, for mounting the tubular stem vin fixedrelation to the Jbarrel, the point block beingk rigidly connected with thestem and `pencil point and detachably connected with the barrel, said spiral being rotatable by the capior advancing the plunger and imparting movement to i a lead within the channel.

3. In a pencil, a barrel, a pencil point and a cap4 abutting opposite ends of the barrel, a tubular slotted stem fixed Within thebarrel and including an outwardly extending flange forming a lead guiding device, thel flange being ositioned tangentially with referenceto the inner and outer walls of the tubular stem, a magazine being pro-vided between the stem and the barrel from-which leads are moved consecutively into engagement with the flange and thence thru the slotof the stem, a plunger slidable within the stem, a tube having a (spiral thereinfor engaging the plunger and providing close contact thereon at the free end of the plung- -er vwith the inner wall of the stem, and a spiral cover surrounding-this tube and fixed thereto, .said cap detachably@ enga ing the spiral cover, the cover engaging't e inner wall ofthe barrel and guiding the end of the plunger engaged by the spiral.

4. In a pencil, a barrel, means therein roviding a magazine, tubular flannfed means Exed within the barrel and rotatable thereby, said magazine providing a chamber substanaving .a spiral tially coextensive with 'the'cir'cumference of the barrel receiving leads moved by gravity one ata-time, from the magazine upon the rotation `ciithe barrel and stem simultaneously, means for advancing the leads from 'the magazine and devices for engaging a lead when' advanced from the magazine, at

points adjacent to the-ends lofsaid lead, and` at a point intermediate of the ends.

5: In a pencil, a barrel, means therein providing a magazine, tubular fianged. means lixed within the barrel and rotatable thereby,

said magazine providing a chamber substan- 'tially coextensive with the `circumference 4of the barrel, said tubulariianged means receiving leads movedby gravity one at a time,A

from the magazine upon the rotation of the barrel and-stem simultaneously, means yfor advancing the leads from the magazine and devices for engaging .a lead when advanced 'from the magazine, a points adjacent to the ends of said lead, and at a point intermediate of the ends, said means last named including a resilient member. f

6. In a pencil, a barrel, means for receiving leads therein means for feedingtlie leads,

a point for the pencil, and a point block mounted within said pencil point, the point block including an end enlargement rigidly connected with the encil point and detachably connected witii the barrel, a Itubular stem projectin into the point block yand a spring adapte said'spring including a vU-shaped portion extending laterally thru the` wall o f the 'stem and engaging the Vouter face thereof.

to project thru the stem i and engage a lead. within the' bore thereof,-

7. In a pencil,`a barrel, a pencil point extending from oneend of the barrel, a tubular point block fixed'in the pencil point and detachably conected with the barrel, the end o'f the point block constituting one end of a agazine, a tubular stem provided with'a longitudinal slot and avlaterally extending` flange, the` stem 'extending longitudinally thru the barrel for its full length and the flange maintaining fixed relation with ref'- 4erence to the barrel, the stein rigidly engaging the point block, a spring Within o'ne en'd portion of the stein for maintaining the leads upon the initial movement thereof from the magazine, in alinement with the axis of the stein, independently of other.

holding devices, a center lblock constituting the other end`of the magazineand fixed in the barrel and rigid with the stein, a plunger f movable thru the stem and devices for advancing the plunger.

8. Ina pencil, a barrel, a pencil point extending from one end of the barrel, a tubular point block fixed in the pencil point and detachably connected with the barrel, the end et the pencilblockconstituting one end of a 'maga ine, a tubular stem provided with a longitudinal slot and a laterally extending th-ru thebarrel for its full length and the flange maintaining fixed relation with reference tothe barrel, the stem rigidly en-` gaging the point block, a spring within one end portion of the stem for maintainingthe leads ufponthe initial mvement thereof from the magazine, in alinement with the axis of the stern, independently of other holding devices, a center block constituting the other end of the magazine and fixed in the barrelv and rigid with the stem, a plunger movable thru the stem and devices for advancing the plunger, these devices comprising rotatable means having a spiral .channel and a cap for the barrel having detachable connection with the rotatable means and movable when attached thereto.

9. In a pencil, a barrel, a pencil point exwithin the lbarrel defining a magazine, the

opposite walls of the magazine being lspaced to an extent exceeding the diameter of the leads to be inserted, to permit ofree movement thereof, `a tubular 'and slotted stem rigidly mounted centrally of the barrel, a plunger, a spiral and a tubular spiral cover rigidly connected therewith for advancing the plunger into the stem, and a caphaving detachable connect-ion with the means ad'- vancing the plunger, said means last named carrying engaging devices for ei'ecting nonrotatable connection between these means and the cap when attached.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures. therewith, Y'

RALPH s. PRYcE. FRANK E. FRENCH. WILBUR s. BOSTDER. 

